Well I did not get to start my Chemo on Monday. They said that the hole from my surgery was still to open and they are afraid that it will get infected. I go back next Tuesday and hopefully it will start then. I did find out that the study group that I was hoping to be part of is not offered by my Doctors office so he is trying to get the extra drug and just add it to my Chemo. Other than that all is well! I also wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the help and support!! It makes things a lot easier when you get support we have gotten! I also wanted to thank everyone for all the food that has been brought and is being brang over!! I very well could be the first person to gain fifty pounds while on Chemo!!! Thanks to all of you my spirts are really up and I will get through this soon and be in all of your debt!! Thanks again Dean

GO BLOOMINGTON CARDINALS!!! Thank you all!!!

Dean had his medi-port put in and all is going well. He went to Devin's music program the same night.

Chemo is still scheduled for Nov 24, pending that his incision has healed enough.

His attitude has really turned positive and he is starting to have more energy and is eating more. He is really looking forward to returning to work and stated that he will be back to CJ's in time to help with the holiday rush. That's Dean, he thinks everything will crumble without him there to get it all in order!

I just want to express again my thanks to everyone for your awesome support. I never dreamed my family would be going through something like this, but it sure is easier with such a strong support system.

Team Jefferson.

Our trip to Barnes went very well. My Dad was so sweet to ride along, and I am sure Dean is grateful for that because Dean got to lay in the back and watch a movie and did not have to talk to me the whole trip. That's our thing, he thinks car rides are for "vegging" and listening to terrible music and I think they are a perfect opportunity to talk and solve the world's problems. Thank goodness my Dad likes to talk also.

We learned there is a study going on right now that is testing to determine if a chemo regiment that is currently being used for stage 4 patients would also help in stage 3. In stage 4, this chemo helps to decrease the possibility of new tumors forming.

Dean is working with his oncologist to find out if he would be a candidate for this study. If so, it is something he could do through the Cancer Center here in Normal, so that is also a plus!

The staff at Barnes were great and told Dean this is a curable cancer, he will just need to fight it and do everything to prevent it from reoccurring. They do not see any other tumors forming, so that is a very good sign.

She did give him a short but effective speech about letting go of the chewing tobacco, so that was a point for me!

Not much else to report at this time. Chemo is still set for Nov 24 pending he is healed enough from the surgery.

Thanks for all the support and I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and spends the day enjoying family!

Just to bring everyone up to date:

Dean was diagnosed with stage 3c colon cancer. He had surgery to remove the tumor on 10/24/08. The cells went outside the colon walls, so he will also need chemo. The chemo will start 11/24/08 and he will is every 2 weeks for 6 months.

We have been told for the most part, the chemo regiment he will receive has minimal side effects. It should not cause hair loss or nausea, so Dean is looking forward to working and maintaining his normal lifestyle throughout the process.

We are also going to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis for a 2nd opinion on Nov 17.

Dean is determined to beat this so he is around to see Devin start for the Packers and Kenzie become President!

Team Dean Updates

In order to keep all of those supporters of Dean and the family up to date we will provide updates through this blog in the coming months. Feel free to leave a comment for Dean in response to a post.